11.21.2014

Angry Reader of the Week: Elaine Low

"I'm a writer, a cheese enthusiast, and a new-mom-to-be."

Hello, folks! It's that time again. It is time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Elaine Low.

Who are you?

I'm Elaine Low. But my friends from college still call me Lobo. As a commuter student on a full tuition scholarship with no money for room and board, I had to take several buses to get to class in the Chicago 'burbs -- which meant a 1.5-hour trip each way, every day, often in the dead of winter. (And Chicago winters are no joke.) Eventually I became friends with my teammates on the cheer squad and couch-surfed a couple of times a week, which earned me the portmanteau "Lobo," a mix of "Low" and "hobo." The nickname stuck.

What are you?

I'm a writer, a cheese enthusiast, and a new-mom-to-be. I'm an Instagrammer who mostly posts pictures of my dog. I also used to be a DREAMer -- an undocumented immigrant who was brought to the U.S. as a kid and could once upon a time only dream of the normalcy of waiting in line at the DMV, or studying abroad, or voting in a local election.

Where are you?

In Los Angeles, sitting on the sofa next to my husband, Vic, and my pup, Poptart.

Where are you from?

Chicago, mostly.

What do you do?

Currently, I'm a reporter at a national newspaper, covering business and financial news. I'm also the co-creator of Annie Undocumented an award-winning dramedy inspired by my experiences as a former undocumented teen. Our little project was fortunate enough to be an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Television Festival, where it won Best Short-Form Web Series. Our director Daniel Hsia (Shanghai Calling) and producer Brian Yang (Linsanity) have been featured on MSNBC, HuffPo Live, NBCnews.com, and other media outlets to chat about the series. Watch the full pilot at AnnieUndocumented.com, then let us know what you thought of it on Twitter at @annie_undoc or on Facebook!

What are you all about?

Like many others, right now I'm all about paying close attention to what's going on in Washington. Every step toward resolving the status of the millions of undocumented immigrants in the country fills me with optimism, and I can only hope that truly comprehensive immigration reform is on the horizon. I also hope Annie Undocumented can start conversations about what it means to be American, and challenge the existing misconceptions of what an undocumented immigrant looks like.

What makes you angry?

A lack of empathy and understanding toward others with less fortune and privilege. Also, cheap cheese.